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A message received on Sunday morning announced the death of Capt. Thomas
PEERY on Saturday, May 8th, at Culeper, Va. This will be sad news for a
host of Tazewell people. He was 68 years old, having been born April 10,
1841. His father was Thomas PEERY and his mother Miss GOSE, of Burke's
Garden, sister to the late George GOSE, father of John P. GOSE, of Burkes
Garden. For the last 169 years the record shows Thomas PEERY in direct
line of descent. Deceased lived all his life in this county, except for
the last four or five years. He was twice married. The last wife was Miss
SHAWVER, of Cove Creek, this county. The widow and five children survive.
The first wife was Miss REPASS, of Wythe county. Of this marriage there
were ten children all of whom are highly honored and respected citizens.
Dr. Willis PEERY, the oldest son, is now studying abroad. Rev. Dr. Benton
PEERY, a former missionary to Japan, is now pastor of the Lutheran church
in Denver, Colo. Rev. John PEERY is pastor in Lynchburg Va. Mr. Walton
PEERY is in business in Norton, Va. and Professor George PEERY
is a member of the faculty of Roanoke College. The five daughters are all happily
married - except one, we believe, who is still single. It is remarkable
that all of the children of both marriages are living. Captain Thomas PEERY
is the last male member of his father's family, of whom there were also five boys and five girls -
Jesse PEERY, father of M.L. PEERY; Stephen, father of A.E.
PEERY, Burkes Garden, and Mrs. Dr. Henry CROCKETT, of this town; Arch, who met a tragic death in West Virginia while looking
after his large cattle interests there, father of Dr. Thomas E. PEERY, of
Bluefield, the well known eye and ear specialist, and Dr. James PEERY, of
Cedar Bluff, father of George C. PEERY, the lawyer, of Wise, Va., Chapman H.
PEERY and Miss Bessie PEERY, who live at the old home town, Cedar Bluff,
Wade H. PEERY, of North Tazewell, and Mrs. Dr. WILLIAMS, of
Richlands. It would be interesting and profitable too, to trace and give more in detail,
the history of the remarkable family whose influences for good has been
felt for generations and in different vocations, and in different parts of
the world, but the circumscribed limits of a newspaper article forbid. A
true Virginia gentleman, a man of sterling integrity and Christian character, has gone. A faithful, gallant, Confederate soldier has dropped
out of line of the rapidly thinning ranks to answer roll call on the other
side, and rest with his old comrades under the shadow of the trees. May
the clods of Culpepper rest lightly upon him.
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